Table stapling machine



July`14, 1959 w, SCHAFRQTH l 2,894,262

TABLE sfgA'PLING MACHINEl Filed March 26, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet l July 14, 1959 w. scHAFRoTH 2,894,262 f TABLE STAPLING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 14, 1959 w. scHAr-'ROTH TABLE STAPLING MACHINE 6. Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 26, 1956 IIFA' I l Ill. l I Il" I.

L aa ,ff 7F a ff y i w P 5. n j 43x July 14, 1959 w. scHAFRoTl-l 2,894,252

TABLE STAPLING MACHINE Filed March 26, 195e s sheets-sheet 4 n al 3l Ey M, f(

July 14, 1959 w. scHAFRoTH TABLE STAPLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet .5

Filed March 26. 1956 FI'FaRMe-m July 14, 195,9 `w. scHAFRoTH 2,894,262

TABLE STAPLING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United StateS arent O p 2,894,262 TABLE srPLING-Macmnn Werner. Schafroth,.HerringA Ill;V Application: Maren 26,1"9s6,seria1lNe.. 573,798

2 Claims. (Cl. 1-13) This invention relates' generally to table stapling machines having one or more staplingheads therein and more particularly to a` table staplin'g machine which is reversible, fully pneumatically" operated, whose height can be varied, which can be" knockecl-dowmwhich has' a safety hinge for theinovable` staplin'g head, andwh'ich has automatic car.- ton centering means;

Staples are commonly usedfor closing cartons or master shipping containers-.which are iilledor loaded l with` goods. 'Inlie` staplingmachines which are` used' are preferably of the retractable anvil type wherein anvils are projected :from the bottom edge of the staplingmachine itself and penetrate the material to, be stapledl so. that the staple is clinched from the `same` side from which it is driven. Stapling machines of this type` are shown in the Taylor and Sharpnack Patent No. 2,012,027,` dated August 20, 1`9`3'5,.and in the AS'chafrotli` Patent No. 2,740,119, dated April 3; 19,56, and'others.

For production` purposes, thesestapling machines are frequently mountedin tables or other suitable supporting st'rctures and are power operated. The staplingma- `chines or so-called staplingheads are mounted in the supporting structure sothattlie` covers,.th`e bottoms,- or the side or end'walls of a carton, or some combination thereof, can the stapled quickly and conveniently.A Since the staplingmachines` are usually placed at the end of ancon- Vey'or line tlieynare usually powerd-i'iven so that an operatorneed only actuate certain controlsA in order to perform the stapling operation aften the carton has been properly positioned.l or orientedfin. the machine? e It is common practiceto use a source of compressed aiiwhich is directed. into a power `air. cylinden `on the staplingy head.- fr operating. lthe stapled'riving Iblade. and linkage which movesthe retractable anvils` to` eiect the clincliing` off a staple. In.` the` past, `it has.- beencommon practice to move the carton centeringmeans electrically and to move the movable. stapling head either manually or electrically. InL many. installations, they bulk or mass of the stapling head, which includes. the staple` mechanism and `the cylinder and the control means was so great that it was impossible or impractical tof move the movable stapling4 headmanually toward the carton-to be clbsed; especially since the. control meansthere'on sometimes consistedA of relatively .heavyr electrical u equipment,k Mving the staplingtlhead, electrically by means ofgmotors added's'tillmore weighttothe machine,` introduced further problems,` andgreatly' increasedL the-cost of the machine.

Present commercial table stapling machines having automatic. carton` centering means are bulky,A heavy and contain much electrical equipment for` operation.` These machines` are expensive, difhculttojtransport, and` rigid so. thattheylmust bedcsignedlfor a particular purpose `and locationwithin` a` plant. Thus, special mountings of aV permanent nature are nsually required to supportthese heavy machines.Y Ifla machine is needed at some diierent location within the p1nti`t sometimes becomes `desirable to fedtlie'machine from the right side insteadof rfr'ointhe lftsice; or viceversa. On' sente occasions this' cannot' 2,894,262 Patented" July 14,1359

ICC

2, be done simply ryby rotatingthemachine horizontally;;` since alwall or other equipment mightpreventan operator from-standingron one particular. side of a machine.

One of the principal objectsof the inventionis to-pvl'o.n videa table` stapling machine which-` is reversibley soi' that ittcanfbefedfrom thea letti1 or fromthe -right `ifa' preferred. Another object` is to provide a machine which,d is.Y fully pneumatically operated by the same source-.fofpower which` actu-ates.V the stapling mechanism andy which `requires `no electrical equipmentiwhatever. Another object ofthepresent invention -isto provide a power drivenstap.- ling machine having alightmovablestapling head; which ishinged tov preventinjury. should a portion` oft. the vhead', usually-` the magazine, contact an object above thellevel of the cartontobe stapled.

Another. object is-to use compresedair to` quickly and positively orient.- acarton` in the machine,` move the stapling head into contacting-relation. with `af carton` totbe stapled,andfthen operate thestapling mechanism.I Another objectisl to provide at lightweight tableA staplinggmaichine having detachable side and: endunits with. adjustable legs.V Still another objectis-to prov-idea-lightweightlmov able staplinghead mountedona mast which can Ibez se'- cured` to either side. ofthe-machine sotthatthefeed can be reversed.

n These and other objects` and advantages WiILbecOme-apparent hereinafter. n n

The inventionyis embodied Vina stapling'machine having means lfor orientingta-carton'onthe worksurface thereof, a mast removably secured to said machine', and: all` air actuated and operated. stapling head movably connected to said mast. n

n The invention alsoconsists in the parts andin-thear'- rangements and combinationof parts hereinafter described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings whichform part` of` this specification and wherein like numerals and letters refer to like parts wherever they occurs,

Fig. l is a side elevational view ofa table stapling ma.- chine. embodying the present invention,

Fig. 2 is atop plan view of, saidrmachine, l v c Fig. 3-is an end elevational-view of said machine,

Fig. 4is a vertical cross1sectional view takenalong the lines 4L-4of'Fig. lshowing the carton centeringfmeans,

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectionalrnievvv along the line 41-4 of Fig. l showing the carton-contact-tmembersfin their innermost or boxfcentering.positiom. A t

Fig. l6 a vertical cross` sectionalh View taken along the line 6-6 `of Fig. 1,` I

Fig. 7 is ahorizontal crosssectiona-l. view taken along the Aline 7-7` of Fig.` 1 e e Fig; 8`is. an enlarged fragmentary sectitmal.:viewV taken along the line 8"-'8Uof Fig. 7'show-ing the support bracket andstapling head with the safety hinge therebetween.. e

Fig. 9 is an enlarged lfragmentary view of said safety hinge showing the stapling head slightly rotated. upwardly, n n

Fig. 10 is'a'n enlarged` fragmentary view of one ofsthe adjustable legs of the table, n

'Fig lil is a top plan View of the support bracken- Y Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational. View of the support bracket mounted on the mast,` `andy n Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic View of one pneumaticsystemfor operating the various air cylinders and air valves of the machine. n

Referring now to the drawings in detail, `it will be` seen that the embodiment of the` invention which has been illns-` trated comprises a table stapling machine 1 havinga frame 2 supporting one or more stapling heads ElI `and 4,. an` automatic carton orienting and centering means 5, `an upstand ing tower o`r mast 6 removably secured to one side o saidl framez, a carriage 7 sl'idably mounted on said mast 6,

. 3 Y v a-.ndfa' safety hinge 8 between said carriage 7 and the upper stapling head 3. I

The frame 2 comprises two side units 9 each having three supporting legs which can Ibe adjusted to an appropriateheight. Each leg `10 comprises an upper leg portion'Il whichtelescopesover alower legportion 12. A pin- 1 3 is inserted into one of a series 4of vertically spaced holesA 14 in the lower legportion 12. A screw y15 throughjtheupper leg portion 11 secures the two leg portions `together and prevents the lower leg portion 12 from falling out of the upper leg portion 11 if the frame 2 is lifted. Separate end units 16 are fastened to the side units 9 by bolts 17 or the like so that the frame lZic-:an be knocked down for shipment or storage. The Vframe 2contains a work surface 18 which comprises a Vplurality of spacedtransverse rollers 19 and 20 extending between said'side units 9. vThe rollers 19 adjacent to the carton centering means 5 extend completely acrossy the frame 2. The rollers 20 at the opposite half portion of the machine are'divided so as to accommodatel the magazine of the invertedV lower stapling head 4 which drives staples in tolthe bottom of a carton.

-The carton centering means 5 comprises two longitudinalcontact members 22 normally positioned slightly inwardly vof -the sideunits 9. The contact members 22 preferably are provided with a plurality of rollers 23. Eachy contact member 22 has two downwardly extend'- i actuated byl a trip `nlechanisni i60. allows Aeomjgiressed ing arms-24 and 25 pivotally connected thereto, said arms extending through the transverse openings 26 in the work surface 18 between said rollers 19. The lower end of each arm 24 and 25 is pivotally mounted on a pin= 27 which is xed on a sub-frame 28. Each of the arms 24 and 2 5 has an inwardly extending substantially 'horizontal bar` 29 having a .driving link 30 thereon. pivotally secured to a gear 31 or gear segment. One pair of opposing arms 24 has an air cy1inder'32 `mounted horizontally therebetween on pins 33. The gears 31 have'shafts 34 mounted in the centering means subframe 28 which contains the pins 27. Another set o f lgears 31 are mounted on said shafts 34 and are operatively connected to the arms 25 by means of bars 29 and idriving links 30.

air from a conduit 73 to enter an air cylinder 62 to actuate the stapling mechanism 57 to drive a staple. This stapling head 3 and its component parts are more fully described in my co-pending application entitled Air vOperated Control Means for Stapling Machines executed and filed concurrently herewith and given Ser. No. 573,796.

An air cylinder 63 is mounted on the lower portion of said mast l6 with its piston rod 64 extending upwardly therefrom andconnected to the bar 50 whose upper portion is slidably mounted between guide means 65 in the upper plates'66 which rotatably support said pulley 56. f

In operation, the table stapling machine 1 shown in Figs. l3 is preferably placed at the end of a conveyor line in a plant or factory so that filled or loaded cartons are received from the left and are directed `onto .the work surface 18 between the carton centering means 5 whose contact members 22 are normally in their spread position as shown in Figs. `2 and 4. Prior tofstapling any carton, the carton centering means 5 and the carriage 7 are. adjusted so as `to accommodate the size of carton which s to be stapled in great numbers.` Thecarriage 7 can be moved vertically on the mast 6 so as to be able to staple cartons from 2Vz inches in height to 40 inches in height.' Preferably, the normal inoperative position of the'carriage7 should be such that the feet 67 of the trip mechanism 60 are approximately 2 to 4 inches above the cartonv to be stapled. The carriage 7 is adjusted by squeezing the trigger' 46 in the handle 45 to` disengage thev end 48 of the shaft 47 from the ho1e'49'in the bar 50. lThe counterbalanced carriage 7"can'then'be moved per square inch, and the individual stapling heads 3 and 4 must be properly 'adjusted'.

An upstandingtubular mast 6 is removably secured to the center leg of one side unit 9 by means of brackets and 4bolts 35. orif preferred by means of a socket 36`bolted to? said leg and/or bracketed to said leg. A carriage -7'is vslidablymounted on said mast 6 so that it 'c'an be moved vertically with ease. The carriage 7 is provided v withf-bearings 37 and 4rollers 38 which roll along the vertical inner surface 39 ofsaid m-ast 6 and 'a bearing 40 androller 41 which'rolls along the outer surface 42 of said mast 6. One set of bearings 37 is mounted on a shaft 43A having an eccentric cam adjustment 44 to move allows Vthe carriage 7 to be moved vertically on the mast 6'forinitial setting or adjustment purposes. The trigger 46 comprises a small shaft or bar 47 having an end 48 which is biased into one'of a series of vertically spaced holes 49 in a vertically extending bar 50 mounted' paralleltoj'svaid mast `6; The carriage 7 4contains a support bracket vSI-'having lateral adjusting means S2 therein for properlyy positioning the upper stapling head 3 which is'fhingedlysecured thereto -by a safety hinge? 53 which is in vfact a bolt. `The weight of the carriage 7 and upper stapling head 3 is counterbalanced by a weight SAI- movable within the hollow mast 6 andconnected .to th`e"*c': arriage` 7 by means of a cable 55 which extends over-apulley 56.

"'-The'"upper stapling head 3 includes la vertical Asta` plingj mechanism 57 with ya horizontal magazine 58vr secured thereto. An` air-.valve S9, which Whena carton moves onto the work surface 18 be-l tween the carton contact'members 22, the operator depresses the pedal 68 which forces contact members 22 inwardly toward each otheran equal amount thereby centering the cartonon the work surface 18.' Depressing the-pedal 68 toits intermediate position causesV air to be forced' into the horizontal air cylinder 32 which has a piston therein which isl moved so as to project the piston rod 69 therefrom to spread one'pair of arms 24. The pivoting movement ofthe varms 24 moves the` barsA 29 -arldilinks 30 connected -thereto to rotate the gears 31 which insure equal-movement of the arms 24.. The gears 31 inturn rotate the shafts 34 which in turny rotate a second pair of gears 31'which move the links- 30 and barsv 29 of the other pair of arms 2 5. 'Ihus, the linkage such that movement ofthe piston in the air cylinder 32` causes equal movement in each of the four arms 24 and 25- thereby 4causing thecontact members 22 to move an equal distance inwardly to orient and center the carton to'be stapled. j j The operator moves the carton rightwardly between the upper and lower stapling heads 3 and' 4 and depresses the pedal `68 to its lowest-position thereby allowing air to be directed to the /upper end ofthe carriage air cylinder or actuator 63 which has a pistontherein with a piston rod 64 and bar 50 thereon whose movement causes asimilar downward movement of the-carriage 7. The carriage 7` moves dorwnwardlyuntil the vbottom edge of this stapling mechanism 57 is'in contacting relation with the carton. In so doing, the vtrip mechanism v60 automatically act'uates the' air valves 59fwhich allows air tolbe directed into the air cylinders 62 mounted on theupper andlower stapling heads 3 and 4. The operation of the airv control means for each` stapling head is described in my co-pending application entitled Air Operated Control Means 'for stapling Machines executed fand' ledcom lcnrrentlyherewith and given Ser. No.`573,"796. Thus, a Istaple isdriven into the cover and fbottomyofthe carton simultaneously `Wl1en thevpedal 68 is released, air is directed into `thebottomof the actuator 63 to returnrthe carriage 7 to its `upper position approximately three or ttorotatfe -upwardlyas shown -in Fig. 9 ftoprevent `damage or injury: The foreign object may thenbe removed and thelupper 'stapling head r3 automatically returns to its position asshownl-in -Fgsl 4and 8.

A rigid Amachine ofthe type shown in Fig. 1 is extremely diiiicult to ship. By providing detachable end units 16, the frame 2 of the foregoing machine can be easily knocked down into separate side units 9, end units 16, work surface 18, and box centering unit 5. Also, the mast 6 can be detached from the side unit 9 and shipped in contacting adjacent relation to said knocked down units. Since the mast 6 is usually taller than the length of the machine, it is desirable to divide the mast at a point adjacent to the work surface 18 so that a longer package is not required. To accomplish this, the mast 6 is provided with a lower portion 70` which lits into the socket 36 on the frame 2.

The machine is provided with adjustable legs to vary the height of the work surface. This is important since a plant might have several diierent conveyor lines of different heights. The present machine can be used at the end of any of such conveyor lines and can be fed either from the right or from the left simply by rotating the work surface 180 degrees. However, such rotation places the operator on the opposite side of the machine and in some plants this is not possible because of an adjacent wall or other equipment. In that event, the work surface 18 can be placed with its box centering means 5 adjacent to the end of the conveyor and the mast 6 can be secured to the side unit 9 of the machine which is not accessible to the operator. Thus, this machine is reversible and versatile, is light in weight, and requires no electrical connections for operating either the box centering means, the movable carriage, or the control means for the individual stapling heads.

Fig. 13 shows a diagrammatic view of one pneumatic system for operating the various air cylinders of the table stapling machine previously described. Referring to Fig. 13, a compressor 71 supplies compressed air directly or indirectly to one or more lter, oiler, and regulator units 72 which are usually mounted on the stapling machine itself, either on the centering means subframe 28 or on a horizontal bar connected between two adjacent legs .so that the dials, iilters, and oilers are readily lvisible to the operator. Compressed air at all times is fed to the air valve 59 of the upper or movable stapling head 3 through a conduit 73 having a short conduit 74 extending to the opposite side of said air valve 59 so that the same pressure is directed into each end of the air valve 59. A supply or working conduit 75 is connected to the conduit 73 so that the same air pressure is directed to the corresponding places of the air valves 59 on both stapling heads 3 and 4. Another conduit or control line 76 extends from the conduit 74 into the lcorresponding portion of the air valve 59 of the lower or xed stapling head 4. If desired, valves 77, 77', and 77" may be provided in the lines 74, 75 and 61 yrespectively to render the lower fixed stapling head 4 inoperative, or if `preferred,

`the-up`per movablestap'linghead `3 inoperative. The valve 77 is a needle valve and the valves 77 yaud77 are ymanual shut 0E valves to render the iixedrhead -4 or movable head- 3 inoperative.

Thus, it Vis apparent `that only one trip mechanism 60 is necessary in the air system of the stapling heads since lines` and 76 are directed intothe corresponding places of the air -valve `of the lower stapling head so as `to actuate the remote stapling -head 4 when the stapling `head 3 is actuated upon actuationofsaid trip mechanism 60.

A line 78 supplies the foot pedal valve `68 with com- Ipressed -air which originates at the compressor 7i-1. Be-

vfore entering the various air cylindersand valves, the

airis passed through ya filter, oiler and regulator unit `suchas indicated at 72. Several such units `72 which oil `and filter the a-ir in the system maybe provided to reduce the moisture content ofthe air "and lubricate the parts. The pedal 168has a line 79 connected to the aircylinder 32 which actuates the cylinder 32. The pedal `68 'also Yhas lines connected to the top andrbottom of the air cylinder 63`mounted on the mast 6 for lowering andlraising the carriage `7. Preferably, the lines 79 and/or 80 may be provided with one or more separate suitable filter, oiler, and regulator units 72 as shown.

The system shown in Fig. 13 is representative of one system which can be used. As shown, the centering means S is actuated by the pedal 68. If desired, a separate valve can be mounted on the side unit 9 adjacent to the operator so that the operator can operate said valve with his leg or hand to actuate the centering means 5. This valve, not shown, may Ibe of the normally oi type wherein the operator must depress said valve and keep said valve depressed in order to keep the contact members 22 together. With such a valve, the contact members 22 resume their normal or spread position upon release of said valve. If preferred, the valve may be of the type wherein the contact members 22 remain either in their inner or spread position depending upon the position which the operator sets the valve.

If desired, the foot or hand operated valve for controlling the centering means 5 can be eliminated and suitable valve means can be positioned between the contact members 22 so as to extend upwardly between two adjacent rollers 19 so that the lcarton itself when passing over said valve actuates the carton centering means 5. The carton depresses said valve thereby moving the contact members 22 inwardly as shown in Fig. 5 where said members remain until said carton has been stapled and moves rightwardly thereby allowing said valve to be released and causing said contact members 22 to assume their spread position shown in Fig. 4.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the table stapling machine described herein is fully pneumatically operated and requires no electrical means thereon whatever.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the in- Ventron.

What I claim is:

1. A table stapling machine comprising a frame having detachable side and end units, a work surface supported by said units for supporting a carton to be stapled, means for orienting a carton on said work surface, an upstanding mast removably connected to one side unit of said frame and adapted to be secured to the other side unit if desired, a vertically movable bracket mounted on said mast above said work surface, a stapling head hingedly connected to said bracket, said stapling head having a stapling mechanism therein which is actuated by an air cylinder, an air valve connected to said air cylinder for controlling same, said stapling head having a trip mechanism thereon for actuating said air valve, air cylinders for actuating said carton orienting means and the movement of said bracket on said mast, and means adjustable in height, end units detachably .connected to said side units, a work surface Supported by said units for receiving and supporting a carton to be stapled, means at one end of said work surface for orienting and center- .inga .'carton onsaid work surface between said side units,

said workV surface having a plurality of rollers therein, one of said-stapling heads xedly mounted in said frame and adapted to staple the bottom of said carton, a vertically extending mast detachabl-y secured to one leg of one side unit and adapted to be secured to the opposite leg of the other side unit if desired, a bracketv movably mounted on said mast, said bracket extending over said work surface and movable toward and away from said work surface, a stapling head hingedly connected to said bracket directly above said ixedly mounting stapling head, a counterbalance movably mounted on said mast to compensate for the weight of said bracket and stapling vhead thereon, said hingedly connected stapling head having a trip mechanism and airfvalve for controlling Ythe operation of same, air operated means for l t:peia' 'ting said carton centering' means and moving said bracketrand staplinghead thereon toward said work surface,said a 1 operating means controlled by anA operator controlled valve, said stapling heads being operatedby-air' upon actuation of said trip mechanism when said movable head contacts the carton to be stapled. y

References Cited in the le of this paten-t Y UNITED STATES PATENTS V' 1,131,321 Bliss et al. Mar. 9, 1915 1,170,002 Schleicher et al. Feb. 1, 1916 2,100,282 Keech NOV. 23, l1937 2,539,599 Tubbs 1m30, 1951 2,663,037 Jorgensen Dec. 232, 1953 2,673,344 Sandberg Mar. 30, 1954 2,706,814 Droll Apr. 26, 1955 2,749,546 Pascale IunerlZ, 1956 2,770,804 Schafroth Nov. 20,v 1956 2,799,861 Allen July 23, 1957 

